Feeder for cigar machines



F. M. WHITE FEEDER FOR CIGAR MACHINES Filed May 24. 1919` Patented'iig. Z3, i923 Lettera Meer verrcj FRANK MORGAN WHITE, or HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA; AssIGNoR', BY DIRECT f Y AND MESNE ASSEGNMENTS, 4T0

NEW JERSEY. i

appiicaaoninea nays-i, i91a. seriali na 299,493'.

To aZZ'wiom/t may conoci/7i.' l V lie it lmownthat I, FPANK Vldoneiiiv Wi-iirn, a. citizen of tlieUnited States,-re

siding at Huntington, in the county of rl Cabell and-State of Test Virginia, have iiivented a certain new and useful Feeder for Cigar Machines, of which the following isja specification, reference being` had therein to the accompanyingl drawings.

My invention has. forV its objectthe remf l edying' oreliinination of certain objections which characterize the hand methods of feeding the filler to machines which make little cigars or cigarettes, and which objections are costly, because of the hand labor and number of operatives required for each machine and from other reasons; variation in weight of cigars Abecause lof non-'uniformity of quantity oftillei supplied; imp'racticability of varying' the p noportions of long' and short filler; inability tomaintain the selected proportions lwhen given proportions are fixed upon; and an unsatisfactory finished productein tliat'the lingers of ,the feederpack and knot the tobaccowhenit should be' loose andfluffy. ,K Y

YThecigarmachine has a leather feed belt upon which 'the operative deposits Vthe filler kby hand, and that belt is marked ofi' indivisions Vto gnide the operator in Yplacing` the quantity of filler forthev desired wfeightofl cig-ars. On damp days the belt stretches and increases the distance between divisions, and

on hot dry days, it shrinks and shortens the' vdistance. between divisions, causingl lightl weight cig-ars in the former case andheavy weight in'thelatter. In time, the belt be? comes so stretchodxfroin use that it must be discarded, and this -is expensive.A 'A certain percentage of short'ller milsty be -used with long. filler, whichA requires weighing, and mining` by hand before 'deposit on the feed belt and this cannot be properly doneyand besides, an accurate pair of scales must he used for each cigar machine, and asthey get out of adjustment very' easily, variation in weight of the cigars is the consequence. .The short iillei must be' placed ion the feed belt so that itwill work up inthe cigar at the central portion thereof, or Iaway from the cigar ends, for if it comesat the ends,as mayliappen with hand feeding, the cigar endsai-c soft or the filler falls out. handfeeding it is not feasible to change the proportion of short tojlong filler, because of feeder, embodying my invention;

feed mechanism; and Q i?, romanian-COMPANY, A ConPoRATIoNor the lnecessity ofl changing the short.filler measuring cups used .in hand feeding. :In hand Ieeding, in 'order'tofmake a uniform "cigar, the fillerf'in vthe mixing, is pulled Q Y apart to render` it fluffy, but this desired ycondition is spoiled by the pressure ofthe operatives fingers on the filler., while en the belt, which packs or knots the iller.`

To ohviate or remedy the. defects in'hand l feeding, above set forth, my invention con-V sists in an automatic, or mechanical Vfeed L mechanism substantially `as hereafter specified and claimed. v c e In theannexed drawings, Fig. l is aside elevation of an automatic Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the longV filler Fig. 3 is a like view ofthe short filler feed.

Briefly described, myinvention hends the use of two automatically operated ofthe cigar machine, in succession, a measured quantity of-eachji'iller, according to the proportions desired. The 'forinandare Aiai'igement of parts forming the-fmechanism may be varied, and'itV will therefore, bek Y understood that the particular construction and arrangementV shown'in the drawings yand whichl I am about toy describein detail,

is to be taken as merely illustrative, and

not restrictive of my invention'.v

1 In the drawings, 10 designatesthefeed belt of a little cigar machine, .whichis intermittently moved each time a cigaris made, andfwhich movement, in-thec'aseof the machine shown is five-eighths ,offan inch, and is produced by a ratchet actuated by a swinging'lever 1l. 1Abovethisbelt I,

place ahopper forlongfiller:.tobacco, and

a hopper for short filler, from each of which the 'desired quantity of. filler is periodically droppedvor discharged intime with the vfeed belt movements so ,that ea'chtime a cigar is made,a quantity of filler to make ay cigar is deposited .onthe feedbelt."` 1 s f The long i-ll'erfhopper `1-2 lias a downwardly inclinedfliottom formedV byvan endless-belt or apron 13 ofvcaiivas, that passes ido over a pair of rollers 14, on the .end of one of which is a sprocket wheel 15,that fis connectedby a chain'l with a Idriving,,sprocket wheel 17 on a shaft 18,. On' the latter is a ratchet wheel19 engaged by a 1feed dog 20 carried by a lever 21 pivoted to swing on `the shaft 18 and connected by a link 21 with vthe feed belt actuating lever 11 by an arm 110. vWithin .the hopper, and connected with the shaft 13 so las to rotate therewith, is roller or drum 22 which reaches from side to,

side of the hopper and is close to the .belt 13 at the lowest point of Vthe latter, On the periphery of the drum 22 are numerous teeth 23 which may consist ,of double pointed vrtacks inserted through a leather band 24 Y which is iitted about the drum circumiterence, and the points ot such teeth just clear thebelt 13, as the drum revolves, their function being to take up the tobacco delivered to theV .drum'circumference Above the toothed drum 22 is. a similar revolvingtoothed drum .'25 whose teeth 251A are pretery Y sprocket wheel 27 on the drum shaft 1S with fa` sprocket wheel 23 onthe shaft ot drum Above, and closeto' the drum 25 a brush roll 29, preferably oit wood, with If peripheral blades 3() ot leather, or'other Y teeth of the drum 25.

flexible material, that serve to tan or brush back into the hopper, tobacco carried :by the `Lying close to the drum 22 and justY above the lteed belt 10', is a picker roll 31, with rows Y of teeth 32 on Vits periphery, which pick or strip from theadjacent drum teeth.23,the tobacco adhering tothe latter, and drop it on. the feed belt,l andto assure a measured and exact vcpuantity of tobacco being taken and .delivered to the feed belt, l place a .Slotted'pla-te or ycomb 33 against the periph- 'ery of the drum22, withits iingerslying between the circular `rows of teeth 23 on such drunn The comb 33 extends at an-incline upward and awayA from thedrum, andris caused yieldingly to press againstV the latter by placing `it on a'pivo't 34 and attaching to Y a crank arm 35 one endet a coil spring36 whose other end is attached-to a'tension ad- 'ustin screw 37 venda infrabrackc't 3 8 on i C) CD I the .side wall of the hopper Vflfvh'e comb serves to hold back the tobaccooso that only a measured amount reaches -the teeth of' the picker roll3l. vThe picker roll 31 is'Vrevolvc-.d

' at afhigh speed, preferably GOO R. l) MQ in the machine shown, and it is belted togthe drivingA pulleyY .of the cigar-inacliine, gior which purpose fit has a band 1 pnl/ley 39 :on

` its shait 4Q. .j The brush .roll is beltedto the the picker roll shatt.r

picker roll shaft kby la belt 41 Vthat connects as rpulley 42on its shaft with a g1 i-l`ley43 'on A,short 'iiller placedin front of the long iiller hopper, that is, at a point nearer the cigar machine, and for sup# porting the hopper 44 it may be goined. to

the long iller hopper by steel straps. Atits bottom it has horizontal .endlcssband or apron 45 that .runs over a pairV otro'lllers 46, one .at each end of the hopper,1andwbotlr attached thereto by slotted brackets `A47Abolted Y to the hopper sides `that permit adjustmentV to tighten the band. vSaid bandv i's'similar to 'the clothing ,or covering ci' the A upperdrum' 25, with its teeth 48 inclined rearward ot the to prevent the tobacco clinging to the .teeth. At its forward or discharge end thehopper has a slide 443 that is adj ustable, to'vary the 'direction ot travel through the hopperso as Y sii/.e or. the outlet opening: 49,'so as to regu# g Vlatevthe quantity otfller removedV tromV the* Vhopper and dropped tothe teedbelt 110.

The band 45Shas1a step by step. motion'in V`unison with the like motion of thefdr'um-22 ofthe long filler 'feed mechanism and in unison with the motion of the feed belt 10, r

and this is accomplished by a ratchet wheel 51 onthe shaft oi onefot the rollers 46, .engaged by a feed dog 52 on a lever53 connected by a linfk 54 with the link 21( which is connected with the ratchetlever 11 ot theV feed 'be-lt moving ratchet meelianism:v The .two rollers 46 are geared togetherby ,a i

sprocket chain v55 that runs over wheels 56 .on the respective roller shaft-s. 'llo'interconnect the ratchet driving devices for the hopper feed mechanismswith the driving niechanisinjof feed belt 10, an 110 is provided, connected ,to move in accordance with the'movement of the leverll, and link `.21

time the feed belt is i advanced one Ystep by the oscillation of lever 11 the individual ratchet feed mechanisms are operated toV deliver the .predetermined amount-of the respective filler materialsvupon the belt. To

enable ,the amount otgiller delivered to be easily regulated .certainof the arms, `such as arms 21, ando'llO, are provided with `slots., and ,the links, such as v21 and 15:41am connected in theslots so that by shitting the link connections the Vamount'ot movement ofarms 21 and53 mayl be varied, independiently or ,at the same time, and thus the amountotiiller delivered maybe regulated.V

ltwill be seen that any percentage .or

proportion of long :and short'iiller may b e secured by vari ing the strokes of the levers ioo lign Y' 21 and 53 which determine the amount"oi" movement of vvthe drum 22 oi" the "long filler mechanism and the amount ot movement ot the band 45 otitheshort-ller mechanism.

Feed mechanism constructed accordance with any invention not only yobviates or remedies the defects ot yhand werln'but such mechanism issiinp'le, not costly to make,

aan@ with which its. installed.;

and requires no alteration lofthecigarim'a- I claim: l. The combination with the endless feed belt of a cigar machine, of a plurality ofl sources of supply of filler to said belt each j simultaneously With said movement to actuate said members of said sources of supply.-

2. T he combination with the endless feed belt of a cigar machine, of two hoppers situated one in advance of the'other along such belt. a movable member for each hopperto remove filler therefrom and deliver it to said feed belt, and a common operating` meansY intermittently and simultaneously for moving said feed belt and said hoppermembers.

3.A The combination With the feed belt of a cigar machine, of a plurality of sources of supply of filler to said belt, one comprising a hopper and an intermittently rotated toothed drum, and another comprising a hopper and an intermittently moved toothed band.

il. Filler feed mechanism arranged for cooperation With a small-cigar machine in which a filler feed belt is driven intermittently, step by step, said mechanism comprising a short-filler hopper and a long-filler hopper, delivery means for each hopper arranged to deliver definite amounts of the respective filler materia-ls to the feed belt of the cigar machine, andv means connected with' the driving mechanism of said feed belt for operating said delivery means.

Filler feed mechanism arranged for cooperation with a small-cigar machine in which a filler feed belt is driven intermittently. step by step, saidmechanism comprising a short-filler hopper andv a longfiller hopper, delivery means for each hop-- per arrangedto deliver definite amounts of the respective filler materials at different longitudinal points on the feed belt of thecigar machine, and means connected with the driving mechanism of said feed belt for operating said delivery means.

6. Filler feed mechanism arranged for cooperation with a small-cigar machine in which a filler feed belt is driven intermittently, step by step, said mechanism comprising a short-filler hopper and a longliller hopper, delivery means for each hopper, the two delivery means being arranged to discharge the respective filler materials upon the feed belt, and means for operating said delivery| means intermittently.

7. Filler feed mechanism arranged to cooperation with a small-cigar machine in which a filler feed belt is driven intermittently, step by step, said mechanism comprising a short-filler hopper and a long-filler hopper, delivery means for each hopper, the two delivery means being arranged to discharge the respective filler materials upon thefeedbelt at .differentlongitudinal points i' thereof, andmeans for operating said delivery meansin accordance WithV the movements of the feed belt.

8. Filler feed mechanism arranged for:l

cooperation With a'small-cigar machine in which a illerfeed belt is drivenvmtermithopper arranged to deliver atl'each action'a vportionk of tberespectiveEller material on' said` feed belt, and intermittent driving means for said delivery mechanisms operatively connected With saidy Vfeed-belt ratchet-drive mechanism.

9. Filler feed mechanism arranged for cooperation with a small-cigar machine in Which a filler feed belt is driven intermittently by a ratchet device including an oscillating member, said mechanism comprising a short-filler hopper and av long-filler hopper, delivery mechanism for each hopper arranged to deliver at each action a portion of Y ,the respective filler material on said feed belt, and intermittent driving means for Vsaid deliverymechanisms operatively .coni nected with said oscillating member of the feed-belt drive.

l0. Filler feed mechanism arranged for cooperation with a small-cigar machine in Which a filler feed belt is driven intermittently, step by step, said mechanism comprising a-short-filler hopper and a longfiller hopper, delivery means for each hopper arranged to deliver definite amounts of the respective filler materials to the feed belt of the cigar -machine, ratchetdriving mechanism for each delivery mechanism including an oscillating member, and linkage the feed-belt driving means.

l1. Filler feed mechanism arranged for cooperation with a small-cigar-machine in which a filler feed belt is drivenA intermittently by a ratchet device including anv oscillating member, said mechanism comprising a short-filler hopper and a long-filler hopper, delivery mechanism for each hopper arranged to deliver at each action a portion of the respective filler material on said feed belt, ratchet driving mechanism for each delivery mechanism including an oscillating member, and linkage connecting said oscillating members With the oscillating member of said feed-belt ratchet-drive.

connecting said oscillating members withy klf2. Filler feed mechanism arranged for 7 cooperation With a-small-cigar machine in Which a. filler feed belt is driven int-ermittently, step by step, said mechanism comprising short-filler hopper and a long-filler hopper, delivery means for each hopper arranged to deliver definite amounts of the respective filler materials to the feed belt of the cigar machine, ratchet driving mechaiel V'ceo'peratoii ivitiia small-cigar i'iism Jicor each delivery meeliaiiism includ- `ing aii oscillating member, and linkage ooniiectiiig oscillating' iiieiiibeis/ with the 'eedbelt driving iiea'ns7zone of said oscillat-y a elet for nie'iiibei'e being' provided fir justifient of the operating. linkage io regie late the liiller feed. 13.' Fller feedimeclia-nisiii which a 'er `feed belt is driven intermitteiitly by ratchet device including an oeci1-V delivery niechaiiismy ir'icliidiiig;` an oscilla-ting' member, and linkage connecting said oseil- 'anged for eliiii'e ViiiA latine member with the oecillatinv member o. f 1 D of said feed-eelt ratchet drive, certain of said oscillating members be "fr provided Vwith slots for adjustment of the operating linkage to regulate the filler feed. a

lli.' A Cigar or cigarette Vmachine comprising a filler feed belt, means i'or arivaiicing the beit intermittently step step,Y llong-ller liepper and a sliort-iiller liepper arranged substaiitially'above the belt, filler diseliarge mechanism tor eacliliepper a1-ranged 'to' deliver a Vdeifiiiite amoiiiit of `filler material at' each action, and means Q Connected With the feed belt operatingv vmeans for actuating said deliver.'ymeciiau nisms intermittently in accordance with the belt movements.

ln testimony whereof afiix my signature.Y

Mii. FRANK MORGAN VHITE. 

